Saturday 31/10 Russell and Waitangi. What a difference a day makes! Yesterday a remote windswept beach, today a quiet harbour with a millpond-smooth ocean sparkling in the early morning sunlight. Outside our bus mallards and wekas pottered about looking for friends. We had a 10am check out today so needed to look sharp and headed off early to run up Flagstaff Hill via the Kororareka Nature Reserve on Maiki headland. It was already pretty warm in the sunshine...

Blog Friday 30/10 Woke early today and watched as the sun appeared over the mountains behind the beach. It had been a blustery night and the motor home had been rocking despite our carefully selected sheltered position. We drank our tea watching 19 wild horses quietly grazing in the meadow beside our van. There was little sign of life in the campsite as we set off for our run along Spirits Bay. It still looked impressive with pounding white surf, bright blue s...

Blog Thursday 29th The far north Rain!! We woke to the sound of rain drumming on the roof of the van. This triggered mixed emotions. Firstly disappointment and frustration that we could not go for an early morning dawn run along the silver sands of the Karikari Peninsula, but secondly delight that we could snuggle up in our nest with mugs of tea and a pile of maps and guides and a highlighter pen. We peeped out from our windows there was a very sorry scene a...

Wed 28th October 2015 The dawn broke round the headland to reveal the true beauty of the Motutara Farm Park Baron's beach. A 500m sweep of white sand between rocky headlands backed by Pohutukawa trees - and not another living soul in site! After an early run on the soft sand we braved the cool waters to snorkel round a rocky outcrop - one sizable fish sighted. Variable oystercatchers and New Zealand Dotterel joined us at the back of the beach. Cold freshwater ...

Tuesday 27/10. Whananaki. Woke up for the first time in our cosy camper van, sun sneaking through the roof lights. It was very peaceful, just birdsong and breeze. I think today for the first time it dawned on us that we really could do whatever we want, whenever we want; and that was quite a strange feeling after years of deadlines, demands and to do lists..... The feeling put a sort of soft focus on the future. So... What to do today? Well that was easy, w...